Dump car and door mechanism therefor



March 19, 1929. A, CAMPBELL I 1,705,805

ARGYLE. CAMPbEgL f' March 19, 1929. A. CAMPBELL DUMP CAR AND DOOR MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed Sept. 21, l1926- 3 Sheets-Sheet 2' ARGYLE cAMP/BELL.

Patented lidar. i9, 1929.

riesgosonirsn STATE/s PATENT OFFICE.

.ARGYIE .CAMPBELL OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR'TO ENTERPRISE RAILWAY EQUIPMENT COEIPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

DUMP CAR AND DOOR MECHANISM THEREFOR.

Application filed September 21, 1F26. VSerial No. 136,807.r

My invention relates to improvements in dump cars and door' mechanisms therefor.

l-leietofore it has been customari in the 7 art of dump car construction to employ dumping floor doors and a self-locking` doormech-y anism associated therewith wherein the operatingl shaft has been disposed above the level ofthe doors when the latter arein closed position. providing aV shield or inclined portion within the body of the car, to cover the shaft and mechanism. The disadvantages of such prior. constructions are thatcertain of the `loadcarrving capacity of thecar is taken away and further', there is constant danger of the shielding or protecting plates being bonded in or distorted vso as to interfere with the proper operation of the door mechanism.

One of the objects of my invention'is to provide a dump rcar arrangement and operating mechanism for the doors thereof so arrangedthat the operating shaft andmechv anism may be disposed below the normal level.

of the car floor without the necessity of providing shielding plates that would be subject to the disadvantages above indicated. More specifically, an object of my invention is to provide an arrangement of the type just indicated wherein may be employed a selfloclring door operating` mech anism'which will be protected from injury, even though disposed below the levelofvthe car licor by'certain portions of the car structure, which are normally incorporated therein' and which afford a much stronger protection than thatv .eencral character. f "a 1 u v a f V 1 Further objects of my invention are: `.lo provide a door operating arrangement, pref-4 erably of heretofore available 'in arrangements of this obstruction to the discharge of the loadv when the doors are opened; to provide a door strnctuie and opcratin mechanism therefor which will not only be of rigid and efficient construction, but which will be compactly arranged with ample clearance between the moving door and the door operating mechanism; to provide an arrangement wherein the desired large door opening is provided with ample clearance between all parts of the door structure and the rail, notwithstandingl that the operating shaft of the mechanism is located below the level of the door when the latter is in closed position, to provide novel, relatively" Such constructions have necessitatedv the self-locking type, characterized` by the tract that the same presents a minimum n inexpensive, and ellicient bracing means for the door proper; and to provide a novel shaft rotating and locking means.

Other and further objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following'.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a side elevationof a portion of a gondola type of car showing two dump doors with my improvements embodiedv therein, certain parts of the structure being broken to more clearly show the parts. Fig'- .ure Q is a plan View of the construction shown in Figure l, approximately one-half of the car, transversely, being shown. Figure 8 is'r sectional. view similar to Figure 3 'except that theidoor is shown in a partially opened position. Y Figure 6 isa transverse sectional View similarito Figure 3 except that the door is shown in the fully opened position.

In Athe drawings, A denotes broadly, the

.center sill of the car, B the erossbeains, C a

portion of the side wall of the car, D dumping doors hinged to the r'center sill, E door raising and `supporting mechanism,- F doorl operating shaft rotating-and locking means; and'Gwindicates' the uppervportion of onev of the rails. 'n I l rllhe centersill A of theV car preferably inlA `chicles a plurality of reinforced channels lO with a surmounting cover .plate ll. The crossbeams B of the car are each preferably formed of rdiaphragms l2 extending out wardly from the centersill of the car to the rcspective sides. vTop' and bottom cover plates asy indicated at 13 andlt, respectively,-tie thev diaphragms across the plane of the centersill and diaphragm members ll() disposed between thecenter sillsact spacers for the channels lll-l0. Each side wall@ of the car includes a longitudinally extending lower ychordmember l5. preferably in the forni of a heavy angleshaped member having one Vof its flanges 16 disposed in a vertical vplane and the' other. 'flange 17 horizontally disposed 'and secured to "the" upper Vflanges of the diaphragme.

Vertical stake members 18 and diagonally ex tending side frame members 19 are also employed to make up the car .side frame me1nbers. To the side frame members 18 and 19 aresecured side boards 20. The floor of the car is substantially horizontal and includes dumping door sections such as indicated at D and fixed floor sections such as indicated at 21, 22 and 23 respectively. The fixed floor section 21, which rests upon the horizontally extending flange 17 of the lower chord member 15, extends inwardly of the car side wall slightly beyond the flange 17 and as far as the swinging edge of the door D. The fixed floor sections 22 and 23 rest upon the crossbeams and centersills respectively. Sealing plates are provided as shown at 24 and 25 to seal the openings at the front and rear edges of the doors and likewise as shown at 26-26 to seal the openings at the side edges of the doors.

A plurality of doors D are usually operated in unison by a common shaft but the description .following is confined to one door for simplicity. Each door .D includes a load sustaining platform preferably formed of a series of boards 27. A supporting framework for the said platform preferably includes a plurality of metallic hinge beams 28-287 in conjunction with a reinforcing beam 29 extending adjacent and under the free edge of the door, said beams 28 being united to the reinforcing beam 29 by gussets 30 and l in a manner to be more fully pointed out hereinafter. Each reinforcing beam 29 is preferably in the form of an angle-shaped member with one of its flanges on the underside of the door and the adjacent flange 129 depending from the door but spaced inwardly from the free edge of the door. The door at the inner vedge is pivotally supported on pivots 32 carried on brackets 33, the latter being mounted above the center sill. The inner end of each hinge beam 28 is deflected upwardly above the rest of the supporting framework and to a locationabove the center sill and fitted with a hinge strap 34 formed with a loop 134 adapted to receivetlie pivot 32. At an appreciable distance from the swinging edge of the door and reinforcing beam 29 the respective hinge beams 28 commencc to deflect downivardly and are extended outwardly to a point beneath the longitin'linally extending. operating shaft 35 and a connection effected between each said beam 28and a shaft 35 by means of a door supj'iorting mechanism E.

The operating shaft 35, which is preferably of a square section, is mounted in the outer ends of the crossbean'is B in suitable bearings 86, there being a circular bushing 37 provided on the shaft at each said bearing.

There are two door mechanisms E per door but inasmuch as'the construction and Operation of each mechanism is the saine, the description will be confined to one mechanism. Each said mechanism E includes a multiple sided drum 88 fixed on the shaft and having a plurality of flat faces, preferably four in number as indicated at 39, 40, 41 and 42 respectively, the latter having an outstanding lug 43 for a purpose to be hereinafter pointed out. Outstanding from face 39 are spaced jaws 444-44. Connecting said jaws 44-44 and the co-operating door hinge beam 28 is a linkage connection consisting of links as indicated at 45, 4G, 47, 48 and 49 respectively, the link 45 being connected to the jaws 4444 and the terminal two plate link 49 being in the form of a hook-shaped member and connected to the co-operating hinge beam by pivot 50.

l/Vhen the flexible connection is wound upon the drum the links45, 46, 47 and 48 are adapted to engage respectively the faces 39, 40, 41 and 42 of the winding drum. The link 48 is provided on its underside with a lug 51 adapted to engage with the lug 43 on the drum 88 thereby causing the said link 48 and drum 38 to interengage and move in unison. Said link 48 is formed to substantially correspend in width to the width of the adjacent door hinge beam 28 and acts as a spacer for the upper portion of the pair of plates constituting the link 49 and whichV are disposed on opposite sides of the said beams and straddle the links 45, '46, 47 and 48 when the door in closed position. Each of the links 49 is formed with a hook-shaped upper portion as indicated at 52 which, when the fiexible links are wound upon the drum387 is disposed above the operating shaft and has its pivotal connection 58 with the'link 48 disposed slightly to the far side of the axis of the operating' shaft so that the load o-n the doors will not tend to turn the operating shaftvin a direction to release the door, but on the contrary, will tend to ymaintain the shaft in locked position. When the links are lwound upon the drum and the door is in locked position, the pivotal connection 58 is relieved of strain as the hook portion 52 of" the link 49 rests upon the ledges 54-54 formed integrally upon the link block ineinbers 48 at the sides thereof. Each hook link 49, as shown` is comprised of two plate-like sections piif'otally connected to the opposite sides of the inverted U-shaped hinge beam 28 and spaced by the latter. In addition. a conibined re-inforcing and spacing member 55 is inserted between the flanges 128 of said beam, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Said member Vlid being of extended width also provides sufficientbearing area to prevent undue wear on the pivot 50 as the latter extends through the flanges 128 and the reinforcing member 55.

It will be noted by reference to Figure 5 that the links 45, 46, 47 land 48, which wind directly on the drum, are at all times wholly maintained beyond the free edge of the door,

winding within a clearance limit free of the door as indicated by circle 56 shown in Figure 5, whereas the terminal hook member 49, at a certain point in the rotation of the shaft, is temporarily thrown outwardly beyond this cl 1Cle 56 and intersects the are made by the swinging edge of the door as indicated at 57. lt will also l e noted that thehook links 49, during` the opening and closing movements of the door, clear the depending flange 129 of the reinforcing beam 29 and the associated gussets, due tothe fact that said depending flange 129 and the associatedv gnssets are spaced inwardly from the free edge of the door a suffi- .f cient amount for this purpose, without sacrificing the strength at Vthe free edge ofthe door. vWith this ariiangen'ient, I not only avoid fouling of thel doorvdurin'g the opening; and closing movements thereof, but am enabled Vto obtain acoinpact arrangement while at the saine time permitting a wide'opening for thedoor and ample clearance from the rail G, as shown in Figure 6..

Y ln previous constructions vsuch as illustrated in my U. S. Patent No. 1,056,888, dated March 25, 1913, where it has been customary to locate the shaft above the doors, the termi-y nal hook inen'ibers and co-operating spacing link extend above the load shedding plane of the door and come directlyin the path of the i'lischargingload when the door kis opened but l now dispose said'comparativelyv wide portion of the link connection entirely below the load shedding plane of the door when the door is open and depress the hinge beam 28 as will be observed byreference to Figure 6' wherein it will be seen that the only portion ofthe link connection which is lin the path of the load when the door is open is that which is adapted to wind in the plane of the hinge beam 28, i. e., links 45, 46 and 47 all of which offer con'iparatively small resistance tor the free discharge of the load. y c

in a mechanism of this character where the Y .loa d is suddenly dropped there is considerable strain on ythe doors when the same are called upon. to suddenly sustain the ii'iipactof the fallingY load and my invention makes provision for bracing the overhanging portion of the door platform to the hinge beams 28 intermediate the pivotal axis of the door andthe hinge mechanism thereof by means oft-lie gussets and 31. Gnsset 30, white extends lengtliis'ise along the deflected portion of ther y hinge beam 28. is secured thereto at suitable intervals to one of the depending flanges 128 by rivets 58 and it is further formed with angulai'ly disposed flanges 59and 159.7 Flangev 59 lying against the underside o f the door is' adapted to bridge the distanceV between the deflected portion ofthe hinge beam 28 and the reinforcing beam 29, while flange 159 is secured to the depending flange 129 of'thereinforcing'beam 29 and to the gusset 31 as indicated by rivets at 60 and 61 respectively. Grus- *j per portion of the ratchet wheel set 81 which extends lengthwise of reinforcing beam 29 is disposed substantially at right angies to gusset 30 and is sandwiched at its upper portionbetween the depending flange 129 of the reinforcing beam 29 and the gusset 30 and then extends downwardly being secured to the flange 159 of tliegusset 30 and also to the hinge brace 28 as indicated at 62. The construction just described thusy provides a door supporting framework comprising beams that intersect at right anglesto each other and which are rigidified at the points of intersection and insure tight joints forthe door. The gusset arrangements aresuch, as will be obvious, toprevent longitudinal and lateral deflections ofthe hinge beams 28 and, conversely, to prevent deflection of the beam The door operating shaft rotating and locking means F is preferably locatedy at the end of the operating shaft vand includes a ratchetl wheel 63 .lixedly mounted on the shaft, 85,*the` operating shaft being` s raced from the level car floor a sufficient distance to accoinmodate the locking link 48 andcooperating terminalhook-shaped link and lalso thev shaft loc ring means. A bracket member 64 is secured to the horizontal flange l? of the lower chord member 15, said member 64 being provided with spaced depending walls 65-.65, between which is pivotallyimounted a locking p'awl 66 and a locking cam 67. vSaid locking pawl 66 is adapted to engage with the up- ',lhe shaft rotating means includes an oseillatable member 68 loosely mounted on'the outer side of the ratchet wheel 63 and having an operat-r ing pawl 69 pivotally mounted thereon on its inner side in the plane of the ratchet wheel 63 and engageable with the undersidethereof to rotate the operating shaft On the ontei vside of the oscillatable member 68tbere vare a plurality of lever receivin 0' sockets iO-'70 arranged in angular relation thereby permit-y ting the insertion of levers at varyingangles.

The disposition of the locking means intliis manner in the space between the shaft and floor of the cai' thus permits ofthe employ-- ment of a` compact operating and locking means as a single ratchet may then be used for both rotating an d lockingtlie shaft and,` furtliern'iore, the parts are thoroughly protected and mounted on subsl'ai'itial members ofthe .car body. A f

lilith the arrangement hereinbefoi'e V(lescribed, it will be observed that the full load carryingcapacity of the car is obtained while at the same time the operating shaft and associated ylinkages are adequately protected and that there are no sloping' sheets required which would be subject to injury from vclam shell bucketsv and the like, .frequently usedv in the unloading of cars-of this type. It Awill further be noted that the operating shaft is particularly free from injury due to the dis.-

lOt)

charging,` load, notwithstanding t-hat it is below the floor level. The linkages also are so arranged, as previously pointed out, as to obtain the least interference with the discharging load, the hook links particularly and adjacent links 48 being,r below the plane of the upper surface of the door when in open position.

By providing the hinge beams with the deflected outer portions as hereinbefore dcscribed, and attaching the hook links as shown, I am enabled to obtain a compact arrangement while at the same time locating the operating shaft below the floor level. This arrangement also provides the necessary wide door opening and at the same time suflicient clearance is provided between the door beams and the rail to prevent fouling. An additional advantage, particularly from a mechanical strength standpoint, which results from the particular hinge connection which I have provided and the particular form of deflected hinge bea-m, is the fact that there is a large upward thrust openingl as indicated by the arrow in Figure G, which counteracts, to a. large degree, any tendency of the hinge beams 28 to bend under load when the doors are in open position. Y

I have herein. shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a railway car, the combination with a substantially level car floor, said floor including a fixed floor section and a movable floor section; of a shaft mounted beneath the fixed floor section; a beam extending from the movable floor section to a position beneath the fixed floor section; supporting; means connectinp,` said shaft and beam, said silpporting means including a series of links and a terminal hook member, connected with said link and pivot-ally connected with said beam, said links beingl adapted to wind around the shaft within a clearance limit beyond the free edge of the door, said terminal hook member, when the door is in its closed position, being;` adapted to lie between the shaft and the fixed floor section with its point of attachment with the links, contained within said clearance limit, said terminal hook member during the initial opening movement of the door being adapted to have a portion thereof moved beneath the movable floor section, while its pivotal point of attachment with the beam is contained within said clearance limit beyond the swinging edge of the door.

2. In a dump car, the combination with a load supporting,` door; of an operating' shaft below the level of the door when the latter is in closed position: a polygonal drum on said shaft, a jointed link connection between the drum and door, said jointed link connection including` link members ,corresponding in number to the number of faces on the drum and a terminal hook link connection, the joints ofthe link connection being adapted to move in a path clear of the door and the terminal hook member having a port-ion thereof adapted to intersect the arcmade by the swinging edge of the door, said terminal hook link having a portion temporarily movable to a position-beneath the door during` the closing movement of the latter while its point of attachment with the links is confined in a path clear of the door.

8. In a railway car, the combination with a dumping door; of an operating shaft disposed adjacent the free edge of the door when closed and out of the path of movement thereof; beams on the door extending outwardly and downwardly beneath the operating shaft when the door is closed, said beams commencing to bend downwardly at an appreciable distance inwardly of the free edgev of the door; and winding` link mechanisms including link members adapted to wind around the shaft in the plane of the door beams and hook link sections, said sections being spaced at their lower extremities by the door beam and at their upper end by one of the link members formed of a width to act as a spacing` member whereby theho-ok link sections will straddle the winding links, said sections and spacing link, when the doors are in opened position, being'disposed below the top plane of the door.

1l. In a railway car, the combination with a dumping door; of an operating); shaft disposed adjacent the free edge of the door when closed and out of the path of movement thereLv of; beams on the door extending` outwardly and downwardly beneath the operating; shaft; winding link mechanisms adapted to wind around the shaft in the plane of the door beams; pairs of connecting' hook members ati tached to said beams, each pair ofrconnecting hook members together presenting` a widened portion adapted to straddle the beam and also straddle the link members when'the door vis in closed position, the widened portion presented by each pair of links boina` disposed below the level of the load sheddingsurface of the door when lthe latter is in open position. 1

5. In a dump car, the combination with a dumping' door; of an operating' shaft disposed below the level of the door when closed and adjacent the free edge thereof; a beam member extendingv crosswise of and'on the underside of the door, said beam member being deflected downwardly and outwardly' from aV poi nt inwardly of the free edge of the door to a point beneath the shaft when the door is closed; and supportingmechanism extending1 from said shaft to said beam, said mechanism including' the hook member connected at one end to said beam and at its opposite end to in open position, being spaced clear of the free edge of said door.

6. ln a dump car, the combination with a dump door; of an operating shaft; a door beam on the underside of the door, said beam being of inverted U-shaped section; a filler member disposed within the said U-shaped beam'and secured thereto; winding link members disposed in the plane of the beam; terminal hook link members Vdisposed on eitherv side of the beam and secured to the said winding link members; and securing means passing through the said'terminal link members, door beam and filler member. l

7. In a dump car, thecombination with a dumping door; of an operating shaft adjacent the free edge of the door; a hinge beam secured to the underside of the door, saidl hinge beam haviiiga pivotal connection with the car body at a point above the main plane of the beam said beam having also its outer end deflected downwardly and outwardly be.-v neath the operating shaft; and self-lockingl winding mechanism connecting the operating shaft and hinge beam.

8. In a -duinp car, the combination with a dumping door; of an operating shaft dis.- posed beyond the free edge of the door and below the level of the door when closed; ak beam member adapted to reinforce the free edge of the door and 'extending substantially in parallelism with the said shaft; a hinge beam member extending outwardly and downwardly beneath the first named member, said hinge beam member being deflected downwardly from a point beginning an appreciable distance from the beam reinforcing the free edge of the door; and a fleiible connection between said shaft and hinge beam member.

ln a dump car,r the combination with a dumping door of an operating shaft disposed below the level of thedoor when closed andy adjacent the free edge thereof; a hinge beam member on the underside of the door, said beam member being deflected downwardly and'outwardly beneath the shaft, said beam member commencing to deflect at an appreciable distance from the free edge of the door; a reinforcing beam membery extending along the free'edge of the door above the hinge memn A ber,said reinforcing beam member consisting of an angle shaped section having one flange lying against the door and the adjacent flange thereto outstanding from the door; and bracing means adapted yto brace the depending flange of the reinforcing member to the hinge beam, said bracing means including sections disposed at right angles to each other and eX tending lengthwise of the respective beams and secured to the said beams andto each other.

l0. In a dump car, the combination with a dumping door; of an operating shaftk disposed beyond the free ,edge of the door when closed and below the level of the same; al beam adapted to reinforce the free edge of the door, said beam having a flange lying against the under surface of the door and a depending flange spaced inwardly from the free edge of the door; a hinge beam extendingacross the plane of said reinforcing beam and having a downwardly extending portion; a gusset eX- tending lengthwise of the reinforcing beam and secured to the depending flange of the reinforcing beam, said gusset being extend-ed downwardly Vand outwardly land secured to the downwardly extending portion of the hinge beam; winding link mechanism connecting the shaft and the hinge beam, said link mechanisms including a hook shaped member adapted to move, in the path ofthe door temporarily beneath the portion of the reinforcing beam lying' against the door.

1l.' In a dump car, the combination with a dumping door; of an operating shaft disposed beyond the free edge of the door when closedV and below the level of the saine; a beam adapted to reinforce the free edge of the door and extending substantially in pai'- vallelism with the operating shaft.; a' hinge beam member extending outwardly and downwardly beneath the first named rein-k forcing beam, said hinge beam commencing to deflectA downwardly ati a point an appreciable distance from the free edge of the door; a gusset member extending lengthwise of the hinge beam member and adapted to'` bridge the distance betweenv thedeflected portion of the hinge beamv member andthe i dumping door; of an operating shaft disposed below the level of t ie doorwlien closed and adjacent the free edge thereof; a hinge beam member on the under side of the door, v

said hinged beam. member being deflected downwardly and outwardly beneath the shaft; self-locking winding mechanism connected to the shaft and door beam respective ly, said mechanism including a hook shaped member adapt-ed to move at a certain point in the rotation of the shaft to a position beneath the door; a reinforcing beam member extending alongthe free edge of the door, said. beam member being so disposed as to clear the hook shaped member during its movement beneath the door; a gusset member extending lengthwise of the lreinforcing beamand secured thereto and tothe downwardly deflected portion of the hinge beam member, said gusset being disposed inwardly of the path of movement of the hook member; and a second gusset extending at right angles to the first named gusset and adapted to brace the said gusset to the hinge beam member.

13. In a dump car, the combination with a dumping door, of an operating shaft disposed beyond the free edge of the door when closed, and below t-he level of the same; a hinge beam extending outwardly and downwardly beneath the operating shaft, said hinge beam commencing to deflect downwardly at an appreciable distance from the free edge of the door; vinding mechanism adapted to connect the shaft and the downwardly deflected portion of the hinge beam; a reinforcing beam disposed beyond the path of movement of the door connection parts; a gusset member extended lengthwise of the said reinforcing beam and secured to the downwardly deflected portion of the hinge beam; and a second gusset extending lengthwise of the hinge beam and adapted to engage with and be secured to t-he first namel gusset centrally of the same.

la. In a dump car, the combination with a car side having a lower chord presenting vertical and horizontal flanges, the horizontal flange being of extended width; of a dumping door; a shaft mounted below the plane of the door when in closed position and disposed beneath the marginal flange of t-he lower chord and spaced an appreciable distance therefrom; a beam on the door eX- tending outwardly and downwardly beneath the said operating shaft; and winding mechanism connecting the shaft and beam, said mechanism including members adapted to assume a position between the shaft and said marginal flange of the lower chord whereby the shaft is automatically locked with the door in closed position, said shaft being rotatable in a direction away from the free edge of the door to wind said mechanism thereon.

15. In a dump carhaving a dumping door arranged to assume horizontal floor position when closed and having also a flat Hoor section in line with said door opposite the free anism including hook members having the ends of their hook portions pivotally connected to .said winding mechanism and having their opposite ends pivotally connected to the ends of said means.

16. ln a dump car, the combination with a dumping door hinged along one edge thereof; of an operating shaft located adjacent the free edge of the door when the latter is in closed position; a self-locking winding mech-` anism attached at one of its ends to said shaft, the opposite end of said winding mechanism comprising a hook-shaped link, said mechanism being adapted to wind on said shaft when the latter is rotated in a direction away from the free edge of said door; means, rigid with said door, to which said hookshaped link is attached, said winding mechanism supporting the free edge of the door in its open position and said means and hookshaped link being so arranged that, in open position of the door, said hook-shaped link is disposed entirely below the plane of the upper surface of the door, and said hook .shaped link and winding mechanism are spaced clear of the free edge of said door.

In witness that l claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 18th day of September, 1926.

ARGYLE CAMPBELL. 

